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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:45 pm: | 
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i took the day off today to ride down to Charlotte and do some recon for the inaugural Carolina NHRA Nationals coming up in September at Lowes Motor Speedway.
once i got the lay of the land, figured out where we're gonna stay, etc., i decided i'd earned myself a "behind the scenes" tour of some of the new facility.
i reasoned that if i parked next to Officer Friendly's cruiser whilst i skulked around, it might buy me some extra karma...
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:46 pm: |
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the new tower, with the drag strip proper just out of frame to the right.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:47 pm: |
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looking down the strip at ground level in front of the tower.
not exactly why they've built it this way, but the new strip is four lanes, not two. theories, anyone???
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:47 pm: |
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no one was yelling at me or telling me to leave (or reminding me that i wasn't wearing the mandatory hard hat), so i decided to hike up the stairs to the top of the tower.
here you can plainly see all four lanes, with some of the construction completed in the left lanes for the starter's area, Christmas tree, etc.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:48 pm: |
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i *think* they're calling these the "John Force Grandstands."
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:49 pm: |
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to the driver's right.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:49 pm: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:50 pm: |
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looking across the top of the tower to the north.
do you see the golf course and all the homes?
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:50 pm: |
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here, look closer.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:51 pm: |
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these poor folks are going to HATE this place.
in fact, the waitress at the local Hooters said the new drag strip had been in the news ever since it was first announced, and that the city of Concord had initially declined to issue a building permit for the place because of noise concerns.
at this, i'm told that Bruton Smith, owner of Lowes Motor Speedway, said, "Let me build it, or I'll move my entire operation [including the NASCAR track] to another town!"
well, not only did Concord cave in (you should see all the businesses in the area that owe their existence to LMS), they changed the name of the main highway thru town from Speedway Boulevard to Bruton Smith Boulevard.
part the Rocky River Golf Course is visible in this pic, along with a zillion condos and townhouses.
unless they (and you) have ever been to a Top Fuel drag race, they have no idea how incredibly, ground-poundingly loud it's gonna be come September.
i assume Bruton Smith lives somewhere else...
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:52 pm: |
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fuzzy zoom shot of the far end of the track and shutdown area.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:52 pm: |
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too bad the bike was so clean - i coulda done some hot laps on the dirt track and no one woulda cared.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:53 pm: |
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hey, note the cool sign in the background! :-)
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 09:54 pm: |
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that Ferris feller sure gets around. :-)
ride to lean, y'all,
FB
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 21, 2008) |
Seeinstars
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 10:12 pm: |
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very nice!!
I'm planning on going. |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 08:49 am: |
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Yea, you're correct, them folks in the subdivisions around there raised a big fuss initially -- that all ceased overnight when Bruton said "OK, I'm moving the whole operation elsewhere." They caved quickly and renamed the road out front to honor him 
Great pics Jerry! Next time you ride south on a weekday let me know.
G2 |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 10:00 am: |
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You know, I really hesitated to look at this thread--the title kinda scared me.
Imagine my relief when I discovered it was about RACING!
Thanks, Jerry!
rt |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 10:03 am: |
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Jerry, your right, the folks in the houses are gonna LOVE the Top Fuel cars!
At least I would!
For those of you that have never been to a TF race, you can hear them LOUDLY for 3 miles or more!
Although they only last 5 seconds....... |
U4euh
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 01:31 am: |
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Yea Ferris, ya had to pass through our area to get there, let us know next time and we can provide escort, reccomendations, etc..... |
Ulywife
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 07:59 am: |
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Looks like you had a good ride FB. Love the pics. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:10 am: |
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the first few shots below are from Friday's second round of Funny Car qualifying.
these pix are impossible to get on my camera, with its tiny viewscreen and mondo shutter lag. it's pretty much push the button and hope for the best:
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:12 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:13 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:14 am: |
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all the pix from here on are from Sunday. most aren't great, but they all bring back good memories.
if you've never been to a Top Fuel meet, you owe it to yourself to go, especially if you live within striking distance of Concord, North Carolina - the new zMAX Dragway is pretty spectacular, and we really enjoyed our time there.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:14 am: |
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if you're a fan of the Lonesome River Band, the name "Shelor" will mean something to you.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:16 am: |
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Pro Stock Bike rider Chip Ellis on the right.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:26 am: |
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Chip Ellis and Denise, Pomona, California 11/14/2004.
Chip and Denise, Concord, North Carolina 9/14/2008 (note that D is cleverly covering up the word "Honda" on her tank top...)
the rest of the story: Chip Ellis: Will Ride For Food
:-)
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:27 am: |
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Erik and i did a gig many years ago at Rocklin Harley-Davidson/Buell in Rocklin, California.
Erik had been "won" for the day by Rocklin Buell in a dealer contest, and i was there covering Erik's visit for Thunder Press.
during our visit Matt Guidera, one of the owners of the dealership, took us back in the service department and showed us the Pro Stock Buells they were building.
it's been awhile, but Matt is now campaigning full time on the NHRA tour and doing very well in the countdown to the championship.
i was hoping to visit with Matt today, but never got the chance. sure is great to see (and hear!) him out there. :-)
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2008) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:29 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 07:30 am: |
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